(WASHINGTON, D.C., 10/16/2012) -- The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today announced that it is offering free "MVP - Muslim Voter Power" get-out-the-vote posters and lawn signs designed to encourage Muslims to vote in next month's presidential election to mosques and other Islamic institutions nationwide. (NOTE: Quantities are limited.)

"We encourage every eligible Muslim voter to vote for the candidates of their choice in November," said CAIR National Legislative Director Corey Saylor.

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

(NEW YORK, NY, 10/17/12) -- The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY) today urged the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to allowSamir Suljovic, a 26-year-old New York resident and American citizen, to return home from Germany.

Suljovic traveled to Montenegro this summer to visit family and friends. After trying to fly back home to New York on October 1, he was informed by airline agents in Austria that the DHS and CBP had asked foreign authorities to prevent him from boarding his flight. Suljovic has been stranded for 17 days and has repeatedly been denied the right to fly home to New York. He has contacted the DHS and CBP liaison at JFK International Airport, but has received no response.

Despite being advised to seek help from the U.S. embassy in Germany, embassy personnel have reportedly provided no assistance, and instead have interrogated Suljovic and allegedly searched his cell phone without his permission.

Suljovic was born and raised in Oakland Gardens, Queens.

A letter addressed to Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, DHS Secretary Janet Napalitano, New York members of the United States Congress, and the United States Embassy in Munich was sent by CAIR-NY expressing concern and disappointment in the government's role in preventing Suljovic from returning to his family in New York.

The letter reads in part:

"The denial of Mr. Suljovic's right to return home without due process of law constitutes a grave violation of his civil rights and liberties. Instead of protecting this young U.S. citizen while he traveled abroad, the government has effectively stranded him in an unfamiliar country without shelter or protection."

Earlier this year, CAIR called on the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate acts of "coercion and intimidation" allegedly used by the FBI to pressure Muslim citizens into giving up their constitutional rights if they wished to return to the United States from overseas.

Last year, CAIR filed a lawsuit against the DOJ and the FBI seeking a court order to allow a Virginia Muslim teenager who had been detained in Kuwait and placed on a U.S. government no-fly list to return to the United States.

CAIR-NY is a chapter of America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

CAIR-OH Works to Get Muslim Vote OutQ: Ohio is considered a battleground state. How much of an influence do you think the Muslim vote will hold on Ohio?A: The smallest number of votes could make a difference here. There is a large enough Muslim community in Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati and throughout the state that it could have an impact.

CAIR-Chicago: 'Don't Take the Bait'Executive Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (Chicago) Ahmed Rehab tells Gihan Shahine how Muslims should react to the current wave of anti-Islamic bigotry.

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 10/18/12) - On Friday, October 26, American Muslims will mark the end of the yearly pilgrimage to Mecca, or Hajj, with communal prayers and celebrations at locations around the country.

The prayers and the holiday that follows are called Eid ul-Adha (EED-al-ODD-ha), or "festival of the sacrifice." Eid ul-Adha also commemorates the Prophet Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son Ishmael at God's command. The holiday is celebrated with the prayers, small gifts for children, distribution of meat to the needy, and social gatherings. During this holiday, Muslims exchange the greeting "Eid Mubarak" or "blessed Eid." Each year, some two million Muslims, including thousands of American Muslims, go on Hajj.

[NOTE: For actual pilgrims, the rites of Hajj continue for some time after the "Eid" prayers.]

WHEN: Friday, October 26 - The prayers are held in the morning. Many communities also hold day-long Eid festivals for families.

WHERE: The Eid prayers and festivals are held either in local mosques or in public facilities designed to accommodate large gatherings. Call local CAIR chapters or other Muslim organizations for details about Eid celebrations.

CAIR chapters can be found here. Local Islamic institutions can be found here.

PHOTO OPPORTUNITY: Each year, Muslims from America and many different countries come to the prayers in colorful dress. The prayers themselves are quite visual, with worshipers arranged in neat rows and bowing in prayer in unison. Participants exchange embraces at the conclusion of the prayers.

NOTE: Because this is a religious service, reporters and photographers of both sexes should dress modestly. Photographers should arrive early to get into position for the best shots. Photographers are also advised not to step directly in front of worshipers and to seek permission for close-up shots.

HAJJ BACKGROUNDER:

In the Quran, Islam's revealed text, God says: "Thus We settled Abraham at the site of the House (the Ka'aba) (saying): 'Do not associate anything with Me, and purify My house for those who walk around it, and those who stand there (praying), and those who bow down on their knees in worship. Proclaim the pilgrimage among mankind: they will come to you on foot and on every lean (beast of burden); Let them come from every deep ravine, to bear witness to the advantages they have, and to mention God's name on appointed days." Chapter 22, Verses 26-28

Hajj is one of the "five pillars" of the Islamic faith. (The other pillars include a declaration of faith, daily prayers, offering regular charity, and fasting during the month of Ramadan.) Pilgrimage is a once-in-a-lifetime obligation for those who have the physical and financial ability to undertake the journey.

When the main portion of the pilgrimage is completed, Muslims worldwide gather for communal prayers on the first day (October 26) of Eid ul-Adha (EED-al-ODD-ha), the second of the two major Muslim holidays.

The obligatory and optional activities of Hajj include:

Entrance into a state of self-control called "ihram," during which pilgrims are forbidden to harm living creatures, even insects or plants, or raise the voice in anger. The state of ihram is signified (for men) by the wearing of two pieces of unsown white cloth. This clothing signifies the equality of all before God. No specific clothing is prescribed for female pilgrims.

Circling ("Tawaf") of the "Ka'aba," the stone building Muslims believe was originally built by Abraham and his son Ishmael. The Ka'aba is viewed as the first sanctuary on earth dedicated to the worship of the One God. It is a symbol of unity for Muslims because all prayers, wherever they are performed, are oriented in the direction of the Ka'aba.

The "Sa'i," or "hastening" between two small hills near the Ka'aba, to commemorate Hagar's search for water to offer her son Ishmael.

The "Day of Arafah." Arafah is a mountain and its surrounding empty plain near Mecca. On this day, the climax of the Hajj season, pilgrims assemble for supplication to God.

The stoning of three pillars representing Satan's temptation of Abraham. The stoning indicates the pilgrim's rejection of evil deeds.

Cutting the hair to symbolize the completion of Hajj.

Sacrifice of an animal to help the poor, and in remembrance of Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son Ishmael at God's command. The meat is distributed to relatives and to the needy.

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

CAIR to Release Poll of Muslim Voters on Presidential PickResults show Muslims may be key voting bloc in swing states nationwide

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 10/19/12) -- On Wednesday, October 24, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), along with the American Muslim Taskforce on Civil Rights and Elections (AMT*), will hold a news conference at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., to announce the results of a poll of American Muslim registered voters.

"The results of our survey show that, because of the razor-thin margins in several swing states, American Muslim voters could be a key voting bloc," said CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad.

CAIR's survey, conducted by an independent research firm in the first two weeks of October, indicates how many American Muslim registered voters are still undecided about who to vote for in the November presidential election and how many will turn out at the polls.

The survey also outlines which issues are important to Muslim voters, which political party Muslims favor, how many Muslim voters have experienced discrimination or kindness post-9/11, and what Muslims think of major foreign policy issues.

The Washington-based Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization has taken similar polls in past election cycles.

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

* AMT is a national coalition of major Muslim organizations that includes American Muslim Alliance (AMA), American Muslims for Palestine (AMP), Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA), Muslim Alliance in North America (MANA), Muslim American Society (MAS), Muslim Legal Fund of America (MLFA), Muslim Ummah of North America (MUNA), National Association of Imams (NAIF) and United Muslims of America (UMA).

(NEW YORK, NY 10/22/12) -- The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY) today announced that an American citizen who had been stranded in Europe for 22 days by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), has been allowed to return to the U.S.

Samir Suljovic, a 26-year-old who was born and raised in Queens, NY, boarded a flight to the United States from Munich Germany today at noon. Upon his arrival in Philadelphia, Suljovic reports that he was interrogated by government officials for an hour and a half and consequently missed his connecting flight to New York. He will now take a train for the final stretch of his journey.

[MEDIA AVAILABILITY: Suljovic is expected to arrive in New York at Penn Station around 9 p.m., where he will be met by the director of CAIR-NY; both will be available to talk to media. Contact CAIR-NY Director Muneer Awad, 347-296-7966, mawad@cair.com]

Suljovic, a New York resident and American citizen, traveled to Montenegro this summer to visit family and friends. When he tried to fly home to New York on October 1, he was informed by airline agents in Austria that the DHS and CBP had asked foreign authorities to prevent him from boarding his flight.

Over the past 22 days, Suljovic has been repeatedly denied the right to fly home. He contacted the DHS and CBP liaison at JFK International Airport, but received no response. Suljovic sought help from the U.S. embassy in Germany, but reported that embassy personnel instead interrogated him and searched his cell phone without his permission.

CAIR-NY had contacted Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano, and the United States Embassy in Munich seeking an explanation of this violation of Suljovic's constitutional rights. CAIR-NY also called on other Americans to contact Samir's elected officials to ask them to reach out to the federal agencies responsible for his exile. Suljovic was born and raised in Oakland Gardens, Queens.

"We are glad to welcome Samir back home, and to reaffirm that American Muslims have the same right to due process as all other Americans," CAIR-NY Executive Director Muneer Awad. "Samir is back in the United States because it is his right to be here. It is his right today, and it was his right twenty-two days ago when our government prevented him from boarding any return flight home."

Earlier this year, CAIR called on the Department of Justice (DOJ) to investigate acts of "coercion and intimidation" allegedly used by the FBI to pressure Muslim citizens into giving up their constitutional rights if they wished to return to the United States from overseas.

Last year, CAIR filed a lawsuit against the DOJ and the FBI seeking a court order to allow a Virginia Muslim teenager who had been detained in Kuwait and placed on a U.S. government no-fly list to return to the United States.

CAIR-NY is a chapter of America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

(New York, NY, 10/23/12) -- The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-NY) today called on the New York City Council to passlegislation that would increase oversight of the NYPD and cut the department's unconstitutional spying program, including the aggressive "baiting" of Muslims by NYPD informants.

CAIR-NY said the "baiting" practice was revealed today in an Associated Press report on the still-evolving New York Police Department (NYPD) Muslim spying scandal. Today's article detailed the story of Shamiur Rahman, a 19-year-old American of Bengali descent who was recruited by the FBI as an informant after his third arrest on minor drug charges.

Rahman said his NYPD handlers instructed him to join groups of Muslims at mosques or religious study groups and start conversations about terrorism, recording the conversations for the NYPD. He also gave the NYPD photos, names, cell phone numbers, and license plate numbers of Muslims who welcomed him to their events.

CAIR-NY has been working with the Muslim American Civil Liberties Coalition (MACLC) and Communities United for Police Reform (CPR) to urge the New York City Council to pass the Community Safety Act, a package of four bills (Intro. 799, 800, 801, & 881) that would strengthen protections from predatory policing for New Yorkers and institute an independent inspector general to oversee the NYPD.

"Police 'baiting' of communities they are sworn to protect doesn't align with our Constitution," said CAIR-NY Advocacy Director Cyrus McGoldrick. "These ineffective and unconstitutional policies are damaging to the communities they target and to the entire city."

Earlier this year, CAIR-NY testified before the New York City Council at a hearing for the Community Safety Act, and participated in the Communities for Police Reform Advocacy Day at City Hall.

CAIR-NY is a chapter of America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

Poll: 25 Percent of Muslim Voters Undecided in Presidential ElectionMore than 90 percent of Muslim voters say they will go to polls on Nov. 6

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 10/24/12) -- A national Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization today released the results of a survey indicating that 25 percent of American Muslim registered voters are still undecided about who to vote for in this November's presidential election.

The new poll, conducted by an independent research firm on behalf of the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), also indicates that 91 percent of registered Muslim voters will go to the polls on November 6. [NOTE: The random survey of 500 registered Muslim voters, conducted in the first two weeks of October, has a margin of error of five percent.]

Sixty-eight percent of the survey respondents said they will vote to re-elect President Obama. Seven percent said they will vote for Mitt Romney.

"These results indicate that a large percentage of American Muslim voters are still open to appeals from presidential candidates and that American Muslims are potentially in a position to decide this year's election," said CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad.

Other findings released at CAIR's joint news conference today with the American Muslim Taskforce on Civil Rights and Elections (AMT*) include:

The top five issues of importance to American Muslim voters are jobs and the economy, education, health care policy, Medicare and Social Security, and civil rights.

The percentage of those who said they are closer to the Democratic Party grew from 49 percent in a similar poll taken in 2008 to 66 percent today. Affiliation with the Republican Party remained nearly the same, with a 1 percent increase from 8 percent in 2008 to 9 percent today.

49 percent of respondents said that the Democratic Party was friendly towards Muslims, while 12 percent said that the Republican Party was friendly. Conversely, 51 percent of respondents said that the Republican Party was unfriendly towards Muslims, while 6 percent said that the Democratic Party was unfriendly.

35 percent of respondents say they have experienced religious or ethnic profiling or discrimination post-9/11. The same percentage say they experienced kind treatment by neighbors or co-workers in that period.

Half of those polled attend a mosque at least once a month.

70 percent of Muslim respondents say they have a four-year or graduate degree, compared to 34 percent college attendance for the entire population.

On international issues, 68 percent of respondents say the U.S. should provide support to those fighting for freedom in Syria and 76 percent say the U.S. and NATO made the right decision by intervening in the Libyan revolution.

When asked to name an organization that best represents the interests of American Muslims, 65 percent of those who responded named CAIR.

As part of its non-partisan election activities, CAIR has distributed "MVP - Muslim Voter Power" get-out-the-vote posters and lawn signs to mosques and other Islamic institutions nationwide.

CAIR has also acquired a national list of registered Muslims voters and its chapters around the nation are currently conducting non-partisan efforts to turn out those voters in November.

In addition, CAIR is providing the American Muslim community with a number of items designed to maximize voter participation:

CAIR partnered with the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) as part of its efforts to empower minority voters. CAIR is encouraging supporters to join ADC's voter protection unit.

CAIR provides the community with voter guides that provide information on presidential candidates, as well as data on times polls are open and what to take with you when you vote.

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

* AMT is a national coalition of major Muslim organizations that includes American Muslim Alliance (AMA), American Muslims for Palestine (AMP), Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA), Muslim Alliance in North America (MANA), Muslim American Society (MAS), Muslim Legal Fund of America (MLFA), Muslim Ummah of North America (MUNA), National Association of Imams (NAIF) and United Muslims of America (UMA).

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 10/25/2012) -- CAIR is calling on imams and khateebs nationwide to use the upcoming prayers on Eid Al-Adha to urge every eligible Muslim voter to go to the polls on November 6 and vote for the candidate of their choice.

CAIR reminds imams and khateebs that mosques that are registered 501c3 tax-exempt organizations cannot explicitly or implicitly endorse or oppose candidates for public office. However, this does not stop religious leaders from urging Muslims to vote and otherwise participate in American public life.

"Voting is the civic duty of every eligible United States citizen and is an important exercise of our constitutional rights," said CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad. "Muslims' votes could be a deciding factor in this year's election. Islamophobes wish to marginalize Muslims and deprive our community of its voice. Voting is a clear message that we will not be pushed aside."

In a similar effort, the American Muslim Taskforce on Civil Rights and Elections (AMT) has chosen Friday, November 2 as "National Voter Reminder Day," to encourage mosques and Muslim organizations to maximize Muslim voter turnout for the election.

CAIR recently released a poll of registered Muslim voters. The poll, conducted by an independent research firm, indicates that 91 percent of Muslim voters plan to go to the polls on November 6. The survey indicates that 25 percent of American Muslim registered voters are still undecided about who to vote for in this year's presidential election.

As part of its non-partisan election activities, CAIR has distributed "MVP - Muslim Voter Power" get-out-the-vote posters and lawn signs designed for mosques and other Islamic institutions nationwide. CAIR also has a national list of registered Muslims voters and CAIR chapters around the nation are currently conducting non-partisan efforts to turn out those voters in November.

In addition, CAIR is providing the American Muslim community with a number of items designed to maximize voter participation:

CAIR partnered with the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) as part of its efforts to empower minority voters. CAIR is encouraging supporters to join ADC's voter protection unit.

CAIR provides the community with voter guides that give information on presidential candidates, as well as data on times polls are open and what to take with you when you vote.

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

(Washington, D.C., 10/17/2012) -- An anti-hate coalition of 127 organizations is asking all people of conscience to contact the Washington Area Metropolitan Transit Authority (WMATA) and ask that it help mitigate the negative impact of anti-Muslim advertisements now on display in DC-area metro stations. The ads strongly suggest that Arab or Muslim opponents of Israel's policies are "savages." They are sponsored by the American Freedom Defense Initiative, a designated hate-group led by Pamela Geller.

Last week, the coalition sent a letter to WMATA Board Chair Catherine Hudgins asking to meet and discuss simple steps to help mitigate the impact of Geller's hate speech. To date, the coalition has received no response from Hudgins or any other WMATA representative.

In its letter, the coalition requested that:

WMATA work closely with organizations representing impacted Muslim and Arab communities during all phases of the response and follow up to the ads.

WMATA take a similar approach to that of the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) in response to these ads by placing disclaimers that show that the hate speech promulgated by such ads do not represent the view of WMATA.

WMATA provide free space for counter ads, focused on promoting understanding and tolerance regarding the greater metropolitan area's various Muslim and Arab communities, and awareness of the harm caused by Islamophobia and anti-Arab hatred and discrimination.

Pamela Geller is recognized as being at the core of a group promoting intolerance of Muslims and Arabs in America. The Southern Poverty Law Center, a group that monitors the hate movement in the United States, calls her "the anti-Islam movement's most visible and flamboyant figurehead."

Federal Judge Rosemary Collyer, who ruled that the ads could be placed in DC-area metro stations, called the advertisement "hate speech."

The broad-based coalition supporting community over hate is led by the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), the Council on American-Islamic Relations(CAIR), Jewish Voice for Peace -- DC Metro (JVPDC), and the Washington Interfaith Alliance for Middle East Peace (WIAMEP).

The coalition's letter, along with a full list of signatories, can be seen here.

The coalition also wrote to Washington, D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray. (See the coalition letter to Mayor Gray here.)

CAIR-MN Welcomes DOJ Probe Into Rejection of Planned Islamic Center (MINNEAPOLIS, MN, 10/29/12) - The Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MN) today welcomed a decision by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to launch a civil rights investigation into the rejection of the planned Abu Huraira Islamic Center in St. Anthony, Minn. The DOJ will investigate whether the city violated the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA).

"We applaud the commitment by the U.S. Department of Justice to uphold federal laws and take a strong stance against recent anti-mosque bigotry in Minnesota and nationwide," said CAIR-MN Executive Director Lori Saroya.

She added that St. Anthony is the fourth mosque opposition incident in Minnesota in the past year. The other three mosque projects - Plymouth, Willmar and Bloomington - were eventually approved despite community opposition.

CAIR-MN asked for the federal investigation in June after the St. Anthony City Council voted 4 to 1 to deny a conditional use permit for the Islamic center, despite a recommendation by the St. Anthony Planning Commission to approve the project. (MORE)

-----

CAIR-WA Seeks FBI Probe of Anti-Muslim Attack on Sikh Cabbie

(SEATTLE, WA, 10/29/12) –- The Washington state chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-WA) called on the FBI to investigate an apparent anti-Muslim hate attack on a Sikh taxi driver in that state.

The driver was allegedly attacked by a man shouting anti-Muslim slurs after he commented on the cabbie's turban. [NOTE: Sikh men who wear beards and turbans as part of their faith are often targeted by bigots who mistake them for Muslims.] The perpetrator reportedly referred to the victim as Iranian and Iraqi, and used several anti-Arab slurs during the attack, which witnesses described as "savage."

According to police, the alleged assailant tore out chunks of the man's beard and loosened one of the driver's teeth.

"This vicious attack needs to be addressed by the FBI and federal prosecutors in the context of growing anti-Sikh and anti-Muslim prejudice nationwide, said CAIR-WA Executive Director Arsalan Bukhari. "We have asked the FBI to open a federal hate crime investigation into this case." (MORE)